Adding 2 chicks from different hatcheries - do they need to be separated from each other too?

[My Three Chicks]

I am looking to add 2 new chicks (around 13 weeks old) to my current flock of 2 (also around 13 weeks old). All pullets.

Question is - when I bring the 2 new chicks home (on the same day), do I need to also keep them separate from each other...while I'm keeping them separate from my current flock? I know separation is recommended for quarantining and also introductions. Just wondering if I need 3 different areas (for existing flock of 2, 1 area for one new one, and another area for the other new one)?! So confusing to a new chicken mom!

 

[aart]

Hatchery chicks are usually safe enough not to quarantine, IMO.
Plus it's almost impossible for a backyarders to really do a biological quarantine.
Considering biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

 

[My Three Chicks]

Hatchery chicks are usually safe enough not to quarantine, IMO.
Plus it's almost impossible for a backyarders to really do a biological quarantine.
Considering biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Thanks aart. If not for quarantining, should I still separate the 2 new ones from each other so they don't pick on each other? Or since it's just a one-on-one and everything is new to both of them, they'll be ok together. And I just need to separate them from my current chicks?

 

[aart]

You might still need to separate as the first step of integration.
In case you do.......
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

I just received three six and seven week old pullets (3) from a hatchery I have gotten all my birds from. Is it really necessary to quarantine for 30 days like they suggest? The new ones are currently in a popup brooder in my house the others are backyard roamers. They need a dust bath I think. They are kinda smelly cat. I just got them on Thurs.
I added a lot of bedding and it really helped with the smell. Also, The cold is really starting to set in with rain/snow mix the next few days. Will it shock them to put them out?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I just received three six and seven week old pullets (3) from a hatchery I have gotten all my birds from. Is it really necessary to quarantine for 30 days like they suggest?

They came straight from the hatchery, no middleman?

It would be safest to quarantine, but I admit I'd just skip to the start of integration myself, as I did the same when I added 7 week olds to my flock from the same hatchery/feed store the existing birds came from.

I added a lot of bedding and it really helped with the smell. Also, The cold is really starting to set in with rain/snow mix the next few days. Will it shock them to put them out?

At 6 weeks they should be fine without heat, as long as they've already been off heat and are in physically good condition, with most of their feathers grown in.

 

[Lizzy733]

They should be fine together - pecking order behaviour is not supposed to get started till they're closer to 6 weeks old. Chickens are also quite discriminatory - they can be a bit racist, so mixing quite different chicks can help them be more tolerant to other breeds.

We founded our flock with 3 one week old shavers and one 2 week old Silkie. We got the Silkie about 3 days after the shavers and she went right in with them.

They grew up sisters and there were never any bullying issues amongst them.

 

[Lizzy733]

Oh, just saw they're 13.. yeah, you might have to see but don't touch integrate them. Split off a section of their pen or add a pen next to theirs for at least a week, then try them together.